Rabbi David Ellenson, Ph.D., President of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, presented Rabbi Richard Davis with the Doctor of Hebrew Letters at Graduation Ceremonies in New York on Thursday, May 5, 2011, at Congregation Emanu-El of the City of New York.

Ordained by HUC-JIR/Cincinnati in 1972, Rabbi Richard Davis is a member of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, the rabbinic organization of the Reform movement. He was recently a non-clinical fellow of the NYU Psychoanalytic Institute. Rabbi Davis holds a Certificate in Professional Executive Coaching from Zicklin School of Management, Baruch College, CUNY.

Rabbi Davis has always been active in creating open, personal, and pluralistic spiritual environments. He derived his philosophy and practice from his work in post-modern spirituality and in leadership education at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, as well as from decades as a congregational leader and international lecturer. He was honored to be the first rabbi in Nantucket, who helped form the first Jewish congregation in the 300 years of settlement on the island.

On the 25th anniversary of his ordination from HUC-JIR, he was awarded the degree of Doctor of Divinity. His degree citation reads, “whose spiritual leadership has nurtured his congregants, whose guidance in the life of his community reflects his concern for the problems of society and the wellbeing of humankind, and whose commitment to interfaith and interracial harmony has found expression in his selfless service for social justice.” It is a concise statement of the principles by which he runs his practice and lives his life.

Rabbi Davis is recognized by his peers and community leadership as a caring, committed, and deeply thoughtful individual whose life-cycle abilities are a critical source of religious satisfaction.

Click here to view the National Graduation/Ordination/Investiture release.

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Founded in 1875, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion is North America's first institution of higher Jewish education and the academic, spiritual, and professional leadership development center of Reform Judaism. HUC-JIR educates men and women for service to North American and world Jewry as rabbis, cantors, educators, and nonprofit management professionals, and offers graduate programs to scholars and clergy of all faiths. With centers of learning in Cincinnati, Jerusalem, Los Angeles, and New York, HUC-JIR's scholarly resources comprise the renowned Klau Library, The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives, research institutes and centers, and academic publications. In partnership with the Union for Reform Judaism and the Central Conference of American Rabbis, HUC-JIR sustains the Reform Movement's congregations and professional and lay leaders. HUC-JIR's campuses invite the community to cultural and educational programs illuminating Jewish heritage and fostering interfaith and multiethnic understanding. www.huc.edu

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